Rates tows field with 7-under 61

BAGUIO, Philippines  – After dropping out of the kickoff leg due to shoulder injury, Leonard Rates returned to the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour in grand fashion, sizzling with an eagle-spiked seven-under-par 61 to seize a two-stroke lead over Ferdie Aunzo at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship here yesterday.

Displaying solid hitting and superb putting to go under-par all throughout, Rates gunned down an eagle on the par-5 16th then hit a birdie on the next, another par-5, then made a blazing finish of three birdies at the front for that 61.

“I need a good ‘bounce-back’ since I didn’t get to finish the first leg because of a shoulder injury,” said Rates, who was forced to withdraw after shooting an 81 in the opening round of the ICTSI Splendido Classic in Tagaytay last month.

A week-long rest took the pain away with Rates back in the hunt for a breakthrough victory on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“Nothing spectacular in my game plan – hit the fairways and the greens and make the most of the birdie chances,” said Rates, dedicating his fiery performance to his nine-month-old baby, Jal.

He displaced from the top the fancied Aunzo, who had a 63 but who could have actually ended up tied with Rates if not for a disastrous double-bogey at the par-3 sixth that marred his seven-birdie effort. 

Majority of the starting 75-player field cashed in on the short backside of the rolling layout that featured five par-3s and reachable par-5s with Terence Macatangay matching Rates and Aunzo’s finish with his own version of a 29 to lead four others with 64s.

They include Clyde Mondilla, who produced two eagles on Nos. 8 and 17, and Carl Santos-Ocampo, who strung up five straight birdies but couldn’t really consistently maintain such hot shooting the rest of the way.

Richard Sinfuego, who got to within inches of scoring an ace on No. 6, and Macatangay and Marvin Dumandan, who both submitted eagle-laced cards, also churned out similar four-under par outputs.

Rates went five-under after the first 14 holes, catching up with early clubhouse leader Aunzo, but got stymied when he bogeyed the par-3 15th after missing the green and a three-foot par-putt.

But he quickly bounced back with that eagle on the 503-yard No. 16, knocking in a 10-footer from a solid 7-iron shot from 165 yards. He also hit a superb punch shot to within 30 yards on the next after an errant drive but eventually finished with a five-foot birdie.

“I hope I have a good start tomorrow (today) and my putting will click. I just hope to have a good start tomorrow (today). A lot of things will still happen in the last two days,” he added.

Aunzo, in pursuit of his first title in nearly three years, said he’s basically satisfied with his round.

“This is a short course, so we need course management,” said Aunzo, out to atone for his final round foldup at Splendido. “Birdies will just come but the key is place your shots on the fairways and make the most of the approach shots.”